Aus Einleitung und Motivation "Die gegenwärtigen Entwicklungen von Head-Mounted Displays (HMD, hier synonym auch als Brille bezeichnet) für Virtual Reality (VR) und Augmented Reality (AR) schaffen ein nie da gewesenes Potential dieser Technologien als Werkzeuge in der Produktentwicklung. Wenngleich VR- und ARAnwendungen keineswegs neu in der Industrie sind, bringt der Fortschritt der Verbraucher-HMDs völlig neue Möglichkeiten. Immersive VR-Systeme bedeuten künftig keine hunderttausend Euro Anschaffung mehr – AR-Brillen dienen zukünftig nicht nur der Erweiterung der Realität mit zweidimensionalen Informationen. Cave Automatic Virtual Environments (CAVE), 360-Grad-Projektoren und interaktive Planungstische sind in der Fabrikplanung teilweise etabliert (Runde et al. 2015). Im Unterschied zu diesen Techniken können HMDs jedoch eine deutlich höhere Immersion ermöglichen, was auch für die Interaktion mit der virtuellen Umgebung von Vorteil sein kann. Das Gefühl der Immersion ist wichtig, um in bestimmten Entwicklungsphasen entsprechende Kriterien besser beurteilen zu können. Primär ist der VR-Einsatz für Bewertungsmerkmale sinnvoll, welche nur qualitativ und nicht quantitativ bewertbar sind (Pawellek 2014). Des Weiteren spielt auch die Eingabetechnologie eine essenzielle Rolle. Um mit virtuellen Elementen interagieren zu können, sollte das Eingabegerät echtzeitfähig und intuitiv sein. ..."

This thesis presents methods, techniques and tools for developing three-dimensional representations of tactical intelligence assessments. Techniques from GIScience are combined with crime mapping methods. The range of methods applied in this study provides spatio-temporal GIS analysis as well as 3D geovisualisation and GIS programming. The work presents methods to enhance digital three-dimensional city models with application specific thematic information. This information facilitates further geovisual analysis, for instance, estimations of urban risks exposure. Specific methods and workflows are developed to facilitate the integration of spatio-temporal crime scene analysis results into 3D tactical intelligence assessments. Analysis comprises hotspot identification with kernel-density-estimation techniques (KDE), LISA-based verification of KDE hotspots as well as geospatial hotspot area characterisation and repeat victimisation analysis. To visualise the findings of such extensive geospatial analysis, three-dimensional geovirtual environments are created. Workflows are developed to integrate analysis results into these environments and to combine them with additional geospatial data. The resulting 3D visualisations allow for an efficient communication of complex findings of geospatial crime scene analysis. / Diese Arbeit präsentiert Methoden, Techniken und Werkzeuge für die Entwicklung dreidi-mensionaler Lagebilder. Zu diesem Zweck werden Verfahren der Geoinformatik mit solchen der raumbezogenen Straftatenanalyse kombiniert. Das Spektrum der angewandten Methoden und Techniken umfasst raumzeitliche GIS-Analysen ebenso wie 3D Geovisualisierungen und GIS-Anwendungsprogrammierung. Um komplexe geovisuelle Analysen auf Basis virtueller 3D-Stadtmodelle zu ermöglichen, werden Datenbanken digitaler Stadtmodelle um anwendungsspezifische Fachinformationen ergänzt. Dies ermöglicht weiterführende Analysen, zum Beispiel zur räumlichen Verteilung urbaner Risiken. Weiterhin präsentiert die Arbeit Methoden und Verfahren zur Integration der Ergebnisse komplexer raumzeitlicher Straftatenanalysen in dreidimensionale Lagebilder. Die durchgeführten Analysen umfassen die Identifikation von Brennpunkten spezifischer Delikte mittels Techniken der Kerndichteschätzung, die Verifikation dieser Hotspots durch LISA-Statistiken, GIS-basierte räumliche Charakterisierungen von Brennpunkten sowie Analysen zur wiederholten Viktimisierung. Zur Visualisierung der Ergebnisse komplexer raumzeitlicher Analysen werden dreidimensionale geovirtuelle Umgebungen erzeugt. Um weitere raumbezogene Daten ergänzt, werden sämtliche Analyseergebnisse in diese Umgebungen integriert. Die resultierenden 3D-Visualisierungen erlauben eine effiziente Kommunikation der Ergebnisse komplexer raumbezogener Straftatenanalysen.

Purpose Facing the dilemma between collaboration and privacy is a continual challenge for users. In this setting, this paper discusses issues of a highly flexible role management integrated in a privacy-enhanced collaborative environment. Design/methodology/approach The general framework was provided by former findings of several research projects, i.e., collaborative platform BluES and projects of privacy and identity management PRIME and PrimeLife. The role management concept bases on a literature survey and has been proofed by integration into the privacy-enhanced environment BluES’n. Findings A three-dimensional role management concept was developed describing users’ rights, tasks, and positions. A discussion on how to fulfill privacy requirements yielded that a semi-automated decision making regarding the use of roles with different identities is reasonable to support users’ control of their privacy when interacting with others. Research limitations/implications The concept of flexible role management complies with the requirements of privacy-enhanced collaborative environments. However, a fully automated approach of rule-based information disclosure is not possible as such decisions depend on personal and situational aspects. Practical implications Using the example of a flexible role management concept, research described in this paper demonstrates that privacy and interaction concerns can be balanced and should be considered in application design processes. Social implications Concepts of privacy-enhanced collaborative environments allow respecting privacy-related attitudes and could improve the quality of service consumption. Originality/value The paper demonstrates contrasts between collaboration and privacy attitudes and presents solutions for the integration of role management to overcome this initially supposed contradiction.

Purpose Facing the dilemma between collaboration and privacy is a continual challenge for users. In this setting, this paper discusses issues of a highly flexible role management integrated in a privacy-enhanced collaborative environment. Design/methodology/approach The general framework was provided by former findings of several research projects, i.e., collaborative platform BluES and projects of privacy and identity management PRIME and PrimeLife. The role management concept bases on a literature survey and has been proofed by integration into the privacy-enhanced environment BluES’n. Findings A three-dimensional role management concept was developed describing users’ rights, tasks, and positions. A discussion on how to fulfill privacy requirements yielded that a semi-automated decision making regarding the use of roles with different identities is reasonable to support users’ control of their privacy when interacting with others. Research limitations/implications The concept of flexible role management complies with the requirements of privacy-enhanced collaborative environments. However, a fully automated approach of rule-based information disclosure is not possible as such decisions depend on personal and situational aspects. Practical implications Using the example of a flexible role management concept, research described in this paper demonstrates that privacy and interaction concerns can be balanced and should be considered in application design processes. Social implications Concepts of privacy-enhanced collaborative environments allow respecting privacy-related attitudes and could improve the quality of service consumption. Originality/value The paper demonstrates contrasts between collaboration and privacy attitudes and presents solutions for the integration of role management to overcome this initially supposed contradiction.

Aus Einleitung und Motivation "Die gegenwärtigen Entwicklungen von Head-Mounted Displays (HMD, hier synonym auch als Brille bezeichnet) für Virtual Reality (VR) und Augmented Reality (AR) schaffen ein nie da gewesenes Potential dieser Technologien als Werkzeuge in der Produktentwicklung. Wenngleich VR- und ARAnwendungen keineswegs neu in der Industrie sind, bringt der Fortschritt der Verbraucher-HMDs völlig neue Möglichkeiten. Immersive VR-Systeme bedeuten künftig keine hunderttausend Euro Anschaffung mehr – AR-Brillen dienen zukünftig nicht nur der Erweiterung der Realität mit zweidimensionalen Informationen. Cave Automatic Virtual Environments (CAVE), 360-Grad-Projektoren und interaktive Planungstische sind in der Fabrikplanung teilweise etabliert (Runde et al. 2015). Im Unterschied zu diesen Techniken können HMDs jedoch eine deutlich höhere Immersion ermöglichen, was auch für die Interaktion mit der virtuellen Umgebung von Vorteil sein kann. Das Gefühl der Immersion ist wichtig, um in bestimmten Entwicklungsphasen entsprechende Kriterien besser beurteilen zu können. Primär ist der VR-Einsatz für Bewertungsmerkmale sinnvoll, welche nur qualitativ und nicht quantitativ bewertbar sind (Pawellek 2014). Des Weiteren spielt auch die Eingabetechnologie eine essenzielle Rolle. Um mit virtuellen Elementen interagieren zu können, sollte das Eingabegerät echtzeitfähig und intuitiv sein. ..."

An environment is defined by a set of field values, such as temperature, electro-magnetic field, light intensity, air humidity and air composition. Smart materials, such as hydrogels, are able to react to these kinds of stimuli. The spatial and time development of environmental values is governed by transport equations. Hence the reaction, i.e. actuation or sensing, of the smart material can be described based on the same assumptions. The displacement, here swelling and deswelling, of the material depends on the combination of the environmental parameters. Smart materials are called multi-sensitive, when more than one parameter is purposely used (i) to manipulate the material, i.e. as an actuator or (ii) to measure the quantities, i.e. as a (multi-)sensor. However, the material can also perform (iii) the objective of a logic processing unit in addition to (i) and (ii). In the current work, we present a device that realizes this concept: An automatic window opener that senses environmental parameters (light-level and air temperature) and reacts accordingly. The hydrogel material that is included in the simplistic device simultaneously acts as sensor, logic processing unit and actuator.

Low-power wireless networks consist of spatially distributed, resource-constrained devices – also referred to as nodes – that are typically equipped with integrated or external sensors and actuators. Nodes communicate with each other using wireless transceivers, and thus, relay data – e. g., collected sensor values or commands for actuators – cooperatively through the network. This way, low-power wireless networks can support a plethora of different applications, including, e. g., monitoring the air quality in urban areas or controlling the heating, ventilation and cooling of large buildings. The use of wireless communication in such monitoring and actuating applications allows for a higher flexibility and ease of deployment – and thus, overall lower costs – compared to wired solutions. However, wireless communication is notoriously error-prone. Message losses happen often and unpredictably, making it challenging to support applications requiring both high reliability and low latency. Highly reliable, low-latency communication – along with high energy-efficiency – are, however, key requirements to support several important application scenarios and most notably the open-/closed-loop control functions found in e. g., industry and factory automation applications. Communication protocols that rely on synchronous transmissions have been shown to be able to overcome this limitation. These protocols depart from traditional single-link transmissions and do not attempt to avoid concurrent transmissions from different nodes to prevent collisions. On the contrary, they make nodes send the same message at the same time over several paths. Phenomena like constructive interference and capture then ensure that messages are received correctly with high probability. While many approaches relying on synchronous transmissions have been presented in the literature, two important aspects received only little consideration: (i) reliable operation in harsh environments and (ii) support for event-based data traffic. This thesis addresses these two open challenges and proposes novel communication protocols to overcome them.

With the continued development towards a digitalized and data-driven world, the importance of visual data analysis is increasing as well. Visual data analysis enables people to interactively explore and reason on certain data through the combined use of multiple visualizations. This is relevant for a wide range of application domains, including personal, professional, and public ones. In parallel, a ubiquity of modern devices with very heterogeneous characteristics has spawned. These devices, such as smartphones, tablets, or digital whiteboards, can enable more flexible workflows during our daily work, for example, while on-the-go, in meetings, or at home. One way to enable flexible workflows is the combination of multiple devices in so-called device ecologies. This thesis investigates how such a combined usage of devices can facilitate the visual data analysis of multivariate data sets. For that, new approaches for both visualization and interaction are presented here, allowing to make full use of the dynamic nature of device ecologies. So far, the literature on these aspects is limited and lacks a broader consideration of data analysis in device ecologies. This doctoral thesis presents investigations into three main parts, each addressing one research question: (i) how visualizations can be adapted for heterogeneous devices, (ii) how device pairings can be used to support data exploration workflows, and (iii) how visual data analysis can be supported in fully dynamic device ecologies. For the first part, an extended analytical investigation of the notion of responsive visualization is contributed. This investigation is then complemented by the introduction of a novel matrix-based visualization approach that incorporates such responsive visualizations as local focus regions. For the two other parts, multiple conceptual frameworks are presented that are innovative combinations of visualization and interaction techniques. In the second part, such work is conducted for two selected display pairings, the extension of smartwatches with display-equipped watchstraps and the contrary combination of smartwatch and large display. For these device ensembles, it is investigated how analysis workflows can be facilitated. Then, in the third part, it is explored how interactive mechanisms can be used for flexibly combining and coordinating devices by utilizing spatial arrangements, as well as how the view distribution process can be supported through automated optimization processes. This thesis’s extensive conceptual work is accompanied by the design of prototypical systems, qualitative evaluations, and reviews of existing literature.

Augmented Reality enables combining virtual data spaces with real-world environments through visual augmentations, transforming everyday environments into user interfaces of arbitrary type, size, and content. In the past, the development of Augmented Reality was mainly technology-driven. This made head-mounted Mixed Reality devices more common in research, industrial, or personal use cases. However, such devices are always human-centered, making it increasingly important to closely investigate and understand human factors within such applications and environments. Augmented Reality usage can reach from a simple information display to a dedicated device to present and analyze information visualizations. The growing data availability, amount, and complexity amplified the need and wish to generate insights through such visualizations. Those, in turn, can utilize human visual perception and Augmented Reality’s natural interactions, the potential to display three-dimensional data, or the stereoscopic display. In my thesis, I aim to deepen the understanding of how Augmented Reality applications must be designed to optimally adhere to human factors and ergonomics, especially in the area of visual data analysis. To address this challenge, I ground my thesis on three research questions: (1) How can we design such applications in a human-centered way? (2) What influence does the real-world environment have within such applications? (3) How can AR applications be combined with existing systems and devices? To answer those research questions, I explore different human properties and real-world environments that can affect the same environment’s augmentations. For human factors, I investigate the competence in working with visualizations as visualization literacy, the visual perception of visualizations, and physical ergonomics like head movement. Regarding the environment, I examine two main factors: the visual background’s influence on reading and working with immersive visualizations and the possibility of using alternative placement areas in Augmented Reality. Lastly, to explore future Augmented Reality systems, I designed and implemented Hybrid User Interfaces and authoring tools for immersive environments. Throughout the different projects, I used empirical, qualitative, and iterative methods in studying and designing immersive visualizations and applications. With that, I contribute to understanding how developers can apply human and environmental parameters for designing and creating future AR applications, especially for visual data analysis. / Augmented Reality ermöglicht es, die reale Welt mit virtuellen Datenräume durch visuelle Augmentierungen zu kombinieren. Somit werden alltägliche Umgebungen in Benutzeroberflächen beliebiger Art, Größe und beliebigen Inhalts verwandelt. In der Vergangenheit war die Entwicklung von Augmented Reality hauptsächlich technologiegetrieben. Folglich fanden head-mounted Mixed Reality Geräte immer häufiger in der Forschung, Industrie oder im privaten Bereich anwendung. Da die Geräte jedoch immer auf den Menschen ausgerichtet sind, wird es immer wichtiger die menschlichen Faktoren in solchen Anwendungen und Umgebungen genau zu untersuchen. Die Nutzung von Augmented Reality kann von einer einfachen Informationsanzeige bis hin zur Darstellung und Analyse von Informationsvisualisierungen reichen. Die wachsende Datenverfügbarkeit, -menge und -komplexität verstärkte den Bedarf und Wunsch, durch solche Visualisierungen Erkenntnisse zu gewinnen. Diese wiederum können die menschliche visuelle Wahrnehmung und die durch Augmented Reality bereitgestellte natürlichen Interaktion und die Darstellung dreidimensionale and stereoskopische Daten nutzen. In meiner Dissertation möchte ich das Verständnis dafür vertiefen, wie Augmented Reality-Anwendungen gestaltet werden müssen, um menschliche Faktoren und Ergonomie optimal zu berücksichtigen, insbesondere im Bereich der visuellen Datenanalyse. Hierbei stütze ich mich in meiner Arbeit auf drei Forschungsfragen: (1) Wie können solche Anwendungen menschenzentriert gestaltet werden? (2) Welchen Einfluss hat die reale Umgebung auf solche Anwendungen? (3) Wie können AR Anwendungen mit existierenden Systemen und Geräten kombiniert werden? Um diese Forschungsfragen zu beantworten, untersuche ich verschiedene menschliche und Umgebungseigenschaften, die sich auf die Augmentierungen derselben Umgebung auswirken können. Für menschliche Faktoren untersuche ich die Kompetenz im Umgang mit Visualisierungen als ``Visualization Literacy'', die visuelle Wahrnehmung von Visualisierungen, und physische Ergonomie wie Kopfbewegungen. In Bezug auf die Umgebung untersuche ich zwei Hauptfaktoren: den Einfluss des visuellen Hintergrunds auf das Lesen und Arbeiten mit immersiven Visualisierungen und die Möglichkeit der Verwendung alternativer Platzierungsbereiche in Augmented Reality. Um zukünftige Augmented Reality-Systeme zu erforschen, habe ich schließlich Hybride Benutzerschnittstellen und Konfigurationstools für immersive Umgebungen entworfen und implementiert. Während der verschiedenen Projekte habe ich empirische, qualitative und iterative Methoden bei der Untersuchung und Gestaltung von immersiven Visualisierungen und Anwendungen eingesetzt. Damit trage ich zum Verständnis bei, wie Entwickler menschliche und umbebungsbezogene Parameter für die Gestaltung und Erstellung zukünftiger AR-Anwendungen, insbesondere für die visuelle Datenanalyse, nutzen können.

Product visualization in AR/VR applications requires a largely manual process of data preparation. Previous publications focus on error-free triangulation or transformation of product structure data and display attributes for AR/VR applications. This paper focuses on the preparation of the required geometry data. In this context, a significant reduction in effort can be achieved through automation. The steps of geometry preparation are identified and examined concerning their automation potential. In addition, possible couplings of sub-steps are discussed. Based on these explanations, a structure for the geometry preparation process is proposed. With this structured preparation process, it becomes possible to consider the available computing power of the target platform during the geometry preparation. The number of objects to be rendered, the tessellation quality, and the level of detail (LOD) can be controlled by the automated choice of transformation parameters. Through this approach, tedious preparation tasks and iterative performance optimization can be avoided in the future, which also simplifies the integration of AR/VR applications into product development and use. A software tool is presented in which partial steps of the automatic preparation are already implemented. After an analysis of the product structure of a CAD file, the transformation is executed for each component. Functions implemented so far allow, for example, the selection of assemblies and parts based on filter options, the transformation of geometries in batch mode, the removal of certain details, and the creation of UV maps. Flexibility, transformation quality, and timesavings are described and discussed.